Petunia plant named ‘Balsundarco’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balsundarco’, characterized by its single type, dark coral-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded -trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsundarco’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balsundarco’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during February 2004. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Petunia cultivars with single typeflowers, unique flower coloration, and a vigorous, mounded-trailinggrowth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybridabreeding selection designated 1694-1, not patented, characterized by itssingle type, scarlet red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage,and well-branched, trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent ofthe new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selectiondesignated SA2091-1, not patented, characterized by its single type,medium coral-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and trailinggrowth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring October 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceOctober 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsundarco’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Single type, dark coral-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the maleparent primarily in flower color, foliage color, and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar isSuncatcher™ Coral Prism ‘Balsuncora’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,731.However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of ‘Balsuncora’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a petal color different from        plants of ‘Balsuncora’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a corolla tube color        different from plants of ‘Balsuncora’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar are similar in comparison toSuncatcher™ Salmon Vein ‘Kersamfan’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,128.However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of ‘Kersamfan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar lack venation and have a petal        color different from plants of ‘Kersamfan’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of        ‘Kersamfan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsundarco’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsundarco’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balsundarco’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Feb. 2, 2006 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Balsundarco.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding            selection designated 1694-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection            designated SA2091-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 21.3 cm. Width: Approximately 56.7 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 30.8 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.8 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 4.2 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent            with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:            Colorless: Color of young and mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 12. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:            Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.8 cm. Width            of mature leaf: Approximately 4.7 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture            of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color of            upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137C with            venation of 144B. Color of lower surface of young and mature            foliage: 138B with venation of 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.5 mm. Width: Approximately            4.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture            of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            Closest to 144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsundarco’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            9 to 12 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 16. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 5.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 4.9 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately            1.3 cm. Diameter at base: Approximately 4.6 mm. Texture:            Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color            of petals: Closest to 186C. Color of tube: Closest to 145D            with venation of closest to 145C.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 7.1 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Velvety. Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex: Acute.            Length from tube: Approximately 3.5 cm. Length of free            portion: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 3.5 cm.            Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of            upper surface when first open: 45B. Color of lower surfaces            when first open. 186D. Color of upper surface when fully            open: 50A. Color of lower surface when fully open: 50C            fading to N155B at base with venation of 145B.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner            surface: 160D with venation of 50A. Color of outer surface:            Lighter than 144D with venation of 144D.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture            of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:            144A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.9 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture of long and short            hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: 144A transitioning to 144B at base.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, partially fused to inside of corolla tube. Stamen            length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Filament length of free            portion: Approximately 1.6 cm. Filament color: 155C. Anther            shape: Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther            color: 1D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 155A.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 2.8 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 144A. Style length:            Approximately 2.4 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed not fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Petunia has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balsundarco’,substantially as herein shown and described.